EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE

EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE

      Health is the over all condition of an organism at a given time. Thinking of people, health consists of a complete state of physical, social, and mental well being. Health permits people to lead an individually, socially and economically productive life. Health awareness is the basic concept of living a healthy life that makes sure that you do not get sick and are able to live an optimal life style. Health awareness is a comprehensive understanding of health. Every normal person need to know this to take care of their “SELF”. This responsibility also extends to the families, societies, countries and the world.  Developing healthy attitude towards health care is an important objective of todays education system. School education gives importance to health education for developing awareness on health care.

      Education on health care enables ;To provide every one freedom from all diseases, To  provide sound mental and physical state to live optimal life & To  choose your health care options. It is a very important aspect of our lives. Introductory health care and taking care of yourself is taught in schools also, but no one stresses the implication of these rules when children are growing up except parents. Parents tell children what to do and how to do but its importance and constant practice for long term health care is not the focus at all. Health promotions through education is essential wellness plan of life. Best care starts from home and it is self care. Take care of yourself, as nobody can take care of you except yourself. Once growing children know that taking care of health is as important as being ready to work for making money, they will have a different out look on health information. Health education gives a deeper out look on health care.

HEALTH EDUCATION

Health education has been defined in many ways by different authors and experts. Lawrence Green defined it as “a combination of learning experiences designed to facilitate voluntary actions conducive to health.”  A broad purpose of health education  is not only to increase knowledge about personal health behaviour but also to develop skills that demonstrate the political feasibility and organizational possibilities of various forms of action to address social, economic and environmental determinants of health. Health education like general education is concern­ed with the change in knowledge, feelings and behavior of people. The preservation of the child's health is no doubt the duty of the parents. But in most cases the child and his family do not know certain" essentials of health. The aim of imparting health education to children is mainly to help them develop a sound physique and also to acquaint them with the laws of health.

Objectives of Health Education

The following are the main aims  objectives of health education in schools:-

·         To provide information about health and hygiene

It aims at acquainting the pupils and the teachers with the functioning of the body, the rules of health and hygiene and the precautionary measures for warding off disease. It is to be notice of the pupils how bad habits, unhygienic ways of living, addiction to smoking and liquor and such unhealthy practices, result in evil consequence.

·         To Maintain norms of good health

It helps the school authorities to keep certain norms of health in school. A number of programmes of good health, develop in the pupil sufficient habits of hygienic living, hygienic surroundings such as cleanliness etc.

·         To take precautionary and preventive measures

      Its aim is to take adequate precaution against contamination and spread of diseases. So good sanitary arrangements are made. Urinals and toilets are kept clean. Sweeping is done daily, and the rooms and the furniture are kept near and tidy. The eatables in the tuck-shop are saved from flies.

·         To take curative measures

Remedials action against disease is also taken. A physico-medical check-up is made deformities. Disabilities and disease detected, and remedial measures suggested. A good number of pupils suffer from myopea. An eye-examination reveals the extent of short-sightedness. If glasses are not used in time, myopea will increase rapidly. Some pupils have bad teeth. If they suffer from pyorrhea, immediate medical treatment is needed.

·         To develop and promote mental and emotional health

Mental and emotional health are also equally necessary in the school health programmes. While physical health makes a pupil physically fit, mental and emotional health enables him to maintain an even temper and happy deposition.